TRENDS & TREATMENT OUTCOMES OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS

<strong><em>Background &amp; objectives: </em></strong><em>The increase in the burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a matter of grave concern. The present study was undertaken to describe MDR-TB treatment outcome trends and their epidemiological correlates, to assess the adequacy of treatment records and to also generate evidence towards influencing and improving practices related to the MDR-TB control programme.</em> <strong><em>Methods:</em></strong><em> A retrospective record-based study (2016-2019) was conducted Mayo Hospital lahore. Treatment outcomes and adverse effects were extracted from the existing programme records including patients’ treatment cards and laboratory registers.</em> <strong><em>Results: </em></strong><em>A total of 2958 MDR-TB patients were identified from the treatment cards, of whom 1749 (59.12%) were males. The mean (±standard deviation) age was 30.56±13.5 years. Favourable treatment outcomes were reported in 1371 (53.28%) patients, but they showed a declining trend during the period of observation. On binomial logistic regression analysis, patients with age ≥35-year, male sex and undernourishment (body mass index &lt;18.5) at the time of treatment initiation had a significantly increased likelihood of unfavourable MDR-TB treatment outcome (P&lt;0.001).</em> <strong><em>Interpretation &amp; conclusions:</em></strong><em> The study showed an increasing burden of MDR-TB patients, especially in the young population with increased risk of transmission posing a major challenge in achieving TB elimination targets.</em>